MARCH/APRIL REVIEWS

 What I've Been Reading

The storyteller: tales of life and music by Dave Grohl

I really enjoyed this memoir by Dave Grohl. He is a born storyteller. I loved hearing his stories from his youth and Nirvana and Foo Fighters. He has had the good luck of meeting many of his heroes and those stories are great. I did feel he held back though, there were gaps or areas where he either didn't mention something of glossed over it. He went into more detail about Kurt than he has in the past but then I felt like there was so much more to tell. Maybe there will be another one later on. It is still a great book; an easy, fun read.

Sahara - Michael Palin

I listened to Michael Palin read his Sahara book, I have heard this before and of course watched the show it is based on many years ago. The audiobook came through at work and I just felt like listening to the comfort of an old friend, which is what Palin's voice feels like to me. The story is about his trip to and across the Sahara. There is a lot about the terrain, wild and crazy, and the people he met along the way. Palin taps so beautifully into humanity and some of the scenes he describes took me back to the show itself so I could see in my mind's eye what he saw. Pure escapism.

Geraldine Brooks on Tim Winton (writers series)

This is a short little essay like book about Tim Winton, written by the writer Geraldine Brooks. It is part of a series on Australian writers. She writes about the trajectory of Winton's career and of the man himself. I found it patchy, but then it is a small book so not meant to be everything about the man and his works. IT focused very heavily on religion, of which Winton is but - in my experience - it doesn't figure as heavily in his works as she would have you believe. There is not much written about Winton, so I will take what I can get, but this was a little disappointing.

Twelve summers: being a life-long fan of Australian cricket is harder than it looks by Adam Zwar

I really loved this book. In my younger years I was a cricket tragic for sure. This was when cricket was interesting, and not the homogenised BS that it is today. It was the days of Lillee and Marsh, The Chappells, Viv Richards, Desmond Haynes, Javed Miandad and many more. Zwar is the creator of Wilfred (and played Wildfred's owner amongst other ABC and SBS shows, and has a lovely dry wit. He also was a cricket tragic and this is the story of twelve cricketing summers that intersected with events of his own life. It is a cracker of a read, heaps of amazing cricketing statistics and stories, along with a few from his own life. 

Lisa - Lisa Curry

Lisa is the memoir of the outstanding Lisa Curry. It is the story of a life lived to the absolute full. Covering her elite athletic career swimming, her personal life, her subsequent athletic pursuits, her media empire, and everything in between. It is a very personal story, and full of detail and information you probably didn't know. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby

I found this a difficult listen, I listened to it on talking book with Hannah narrating. I love Hannah, always have, but have been concerned for her mental health during this recent rise. Listening to her story, warts and all, made me even more concerned about her. This is not to say it is a bad book, it is wonderfully raw and open and honest, but please be aware that it holds a lot of triggering elements within. It was a rough read/listen at times, but it is also incredibly funny.

What I've Been Watching

War of the Worlds S3

OK, this once great show has crawled up its own butt and jumped the shark. They just took the concept too far and it got too confusing. I love the initial concept and the original cast, but jumping around in time as this series does means a lot of change. Which is fine if it is executed well, S2 introduced some odd changes, and this continued into this series sadly. I hung on to the end, cause I really wanted a turn around, but sadly this did not happen!

Call the Midwife S12

I still love this great series, it is a comfort show for sure. But always tackles medical issues historically and with grace. The characters are like old friends, and this season we see lovely Trixie finally marry the man of her dreams, but of course things do not go according to plan. Sister Monica Joan has more health issues, and spoilers (but this is important) she lives to see another day. Thank goodness, she is my favourite and I will be utterly bereft if they kill her off!

Only Murders in the Building S2

S2 took a little bit to get back into but soon picked up the pace and hilarity of S1. By now the chemistry between the 3 main characters, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and the gorgeous Selena Gomez is cemented and utterly brilliant. The twists keep coming this time and everytime you think you know what is going to come, it goes the other way. No spoilers, but this show is clever and witty, a real romp and worth watching. 

The cleaner S1

This was great, a UK comedy about a crime scene cleaner, played by the brilliant Greg Davies. Each episode has him heading to a clean and getting involved with those left behind in very odd and often hilarious ways. Guest stars such as Helena Bonham Carter and David Mitchell help raise the comedic bits also. Really recommend this one.

Mandalorian S3

I bloody love this show! I love Diego, I love Grogu, and I love love love Amy Sedaris' mechanic. Actually, I love all the characters. It is a great show, and this season took the guest stars up a notch and then some. No spoilers from me, but this IS the perfect show.

The Book of Boba Fett

Apparently, If you love The Mandalorian, you need to watch this. So I did, and I loved it too! Follows Boba Fett from Star Wars, and introduces a whole range of fascinating characters, good and bad!

The Lost City

Look, this is a poor (sort of) remake of Romancing the Stone, but it was ok. Sandra Bullock is a romance writer, who is over the whole thing, and is kidnapped. Her cover model tries to save her. It is very funny in parts, Bullock, and Tatum are great and a cameo by Brad Pitt even funnier. Daniel Radcliffe is the greedy billionaire behind all the drama, and he is nasty!

Bullet Train

Brad Pitt is an assassin on one last mission. He lands on the bullet train in Japan and realises he is not the only one on a mission, and chaos ensues. Funny and great action!

Downton Abbey movie

I think this was ok, nothing new, nothing great, but always a comfort watch. A bit of humour, a bit of drama, great fashion, and stunning set design. They family gets caught up in 'talking pictures', chaos ensues. Part of me thinks they should probably stop, but then part of thinks, if so many people get comfort out of this (and they seem to), why not keep going. I'll still check in...

Hearts Beat Loud

I wanted to love this, Nick Offerman is a single dad with a musically talented daughter. He wants to start a band with her, she wants to study academically. This should have been so much better, the story seemed forced, the humour was empty, the music was even that great. Oh well...

Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

This was a lot of fun, Pedro Pascal and Nicolas Cage. Nic Cage plays himself and all he wants is a break at a small resort. Pedro Pascal's character runs the resort and is a super fan of Cage, but also may be attached to a mafia like organisation. The CIA ask Cage to penetrate the organisation and bring it down. So Cage has to act in 'real life' like his on screen action persona and save everyone. Absolutely hilarious. If it wasn't cast with Cage and Pascal in on the silliness, and had they not had the chemistry they had, it may not have worked; and whilst not the most amazing film, it was pretty good.

Broadcast News

I rewatched this classic, and it totally holds up (except for the fashion). Albert Brooks was as funny and great as you remember, William Hurt as suave and a bit of an arsehole as you remember and Holly Hunter was bloody everything in this behind the scenes of a TV network movie. I had forgotten about the clumsy ending, I wish they would detach that part, but otherwise still one of the great dramedys!

Eternal Sunshine of the Endless Mind

This is one of my all-time favourite movies. It is out there, but essentially one of the most beautifully melancholy films, it just brings me to my knees. I rewatch it regularly but had not for a while. It always holds up. I think it is one of Jim Carrey's best performances and Kate Winslet is everything in it. It is a difficult film to describe (and follow) due to a magnificently crazy script by Charlie Kaufman. It does jump around in time, Kate's hair colour will anchor you, if that helps!?! 

Jim and Kate play lovers who break up terribly. Jim's character comes across this company who can erase your love memories and he goes all in. Once into the process, he realises he does not want to lose those beautiful memories, despite how it ends. And this is where things get crazy, but stunning and amazing. This film is so incredibly romantic and beautiful. all the performances are remarkable. It is a great film.

From Paris to Rome with Bettany Higgins

Following the sassy historian, Bettany through some of my favourite places in Italy and France was a great treat. She is great at retelling history and explaining it all, you just want to be her friend. This was just sublime.

Great Music Cities

This was a great documentary series on great music cities, New York, LA, London, Manchester, Detroit, Nashville, Melbourne etc. It is really well done, detailed and features a LOT of great musicians from these places talking about their music and why that particular city shaped it. I was in music heaven, it is a really great series

Hard Quiz

We love this show, we love Tom Gleeson. It is your basic quiz show with a twist, but even then the twist (Tom's hard-arse character) is pretty endearing and not that much of a twist. I love the quirky people who bring their quirky subjects to the quiz. Loads of fun, and a good test on the brain.

OSCARS

See the links for movies, the show, and everything else.

Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields

This was a great 2 part documentary, produced by Brooke herself. It delves into her life as a child star/model, and a popular culture icon. Absolutely fascinating to see her dissect her life via the media (that dissected her at the time). It includes her relationship with her mother, ex husband, Andrew Agassi, ex beaus like Michael Jackson, John Travolta, and JFK Jnr. Her acting career, her modelling, her study. It also delves into the darker sides of her life. Totally worth a watch.

Bono and The Edge: a sort of homecoming with Dave Letterman

I loved this documentary, it is such a treat. I must say U2 had really jumped the shark in the past 10-20 years. Once the biggest and best band in the world, and my absolute heroes, they became a cardboard cut-out of themselves. SO the break was needed, and jumping back in via this doco was perfect. The doco follows Bono and The Edge back home in Ireland re-recording some of their best tunes, all stripped back with some musician friends. Letterman joins them to interview them about the music, the process, the doco, and their friends. The film feels like a huge hug, and renewed my love of U2.

Keeping the Score

I really enjoyed this documentary about Simone Young, the conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. It follows the trajectory of her career, and the controversy of being a female conductor! Quelle horreur! She is amazing, and trail blazer. This is accompanied by the most lovely classical soundtrack...of course!

50 Years of Mr Men and Little Miss

Matt Lucas hosted this great little doco on these hilarious children's books. It was a lot of fun and he got dressed up as a few characters which was great watching and comedy.

What I Have Been Listening To

Art Life and the other thing

This is a great 6-part podcast about Brett Whiteley. Each episode is named for and based around 6 of his more interesting painting, eg Alchemy, Heroin Clock, Balcony 2 etc. Contemporaries and those that knew him, Barry Pearce and Wendy Whiteley, are interviewed and discuss his work and how it holds up today. They discuss landscapes, portraits, addiction, women, his significance today, and his legacy. A lovely and different approach to his work.

I'm Breathless: music from and inspired by Dick Tracy by Madonna

Sometimes you need saucy, retro Madonna, and I had this fabulous soundtrack on repeat for some time

Suzanne Vega and Solitude Standing by Suzanne Vega

Just a lovely 1/2 from Suzanne. I haven't listened to these albums in a long time, and they both hold up very well. Laid back and chill musically but packing a punch lyrically.

Celebrity Skin - Hole

Simply a great rocking album. I love this album a lot and it always feels fresh when I play it.

Reservoir Dogs

This is one of my favourite film soundtracks, with a mix of great songs, and the radio DJ pieces cut within. I recently got a copy on vinyl, so have been spinning it at Club Cathy.